(Reuters) - Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O) on Thursday reported a better-than-expected rise in quarterly sales at established stores as it benefited from higher prices in the United States and a rebound in China, sending its shares up nearly 9 percent.

A Starbucks sign is show on one of the companies stores in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 19,2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The world’s largest coffee chain is battling intense competition in the United States, its largest market, from both high-end coffee shops and fast-food chains.

In response, the company has been closing underperforming stores, while licensing its retail business to Nestlé (NESN.S) for about $7 billion as part of its plan to streamline its operations.

Starbucks’ focus on cold drinks such as nitro cold coffee and caffeinated fruity beverages in the quarter to lure customers during slow afternoon hours helped it post the best growth in its drinks business for the year, the company executives said on a call.

Sales at established U.S. cafes in the fourth quarter grew 4 percent, well above analysts’ expectations, while the amount spent by customers on average rose 5 percent, helping the company post its best U.S. sales growth in five quarters.

“As we enter fiscal 2019, we are executing against a clear growth agenda, with a focus on our long-term growth markets of the U.S. and China,” Chief Executive Officer Kevin Johnson said.

Same-store sales in China also rose 2 percent, reversing a decline from the third quarter and driving a 3 percent rise in global comparable store sales.

The coffee chain’s business in China, its fastest-growing market in recent years, slowed significantly last quarter amid fierce competition and stricter regulations on delivery services.

Since then the company has partnered with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA.N) to deliver its coffee in Chinese cities, a deal that a company executive said will be “rocket fuel” for Starbucks’ business in the country.

“While we still have work to do, these results provide encouraging evidence that our plan is working,” Johnson said on the call.

Total net revenue rose to $6.30 billion, beating expectations of $6.27 billion, according to IBES data by Refinitiv.

Excluding items, the company earned 62 cents per share also beating expectations of 60 cents, while its adjusted profit forecast for fiscal 2019 was in line with expectations.

Starbucks shares were up 7.7 percent at $63.20 in after-hours trading, adding to the year’s modest growth of 1.5 percent.

Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva